The results are in: Employers need virtual health care in their employee benefits plans

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Virtual health care isn’t new, but the pandemic certainly gave it a shot in the arm. In fact, 60 per cent of Canadians’ visits to health care professionals became virtual by April 2020. Virtual care experiences were highly positive, with patients citing benefits such as greater convenience and better health outcomes – and 96 per cent of those who had tried a virtual care app indicated they were satisfied with it, according to research commissioned by TELUS Health in An in-depth look at the Canadian virtual healthcare landscape. Today, even as many Canadians head back to their doctors’ offices, pharmacies and clinics in person, they expect virtual care to remain a permanent option.

Along with changing attitudes, Canadians are also broadening how they use virtual care to support their overall health and well-being. Research from PMG Intelligence found Canadians mostly use virtual care to book appointments and attend appointments related to new or existing physical health concerns. At the same time, the research also found that Canadians intend to use virtual health care for a wider range of services, including health coaching, mental health counselling, physiotherapy and occupational therapy, as well as consulting with nutritionists and dietitians.

As more Canadians embrace virtual care, employers have a central role to play in ensuring their employees can access these vital services. Many organizations are including virtual care offerings as part of their benefits strategy and employee assistance programs. However, a survey conducted by the Conference Board of Canada and TELUS Health found a gap of up to 83 per cent between the health benefits Canadian employees report they have versus what they want. The disconnect puts organizations at increased risk for employee disengagement and turnover – at a time when companies face a critical talent crunch.

“Employees and their family members are depending on their employers to help close the gap in access to care,” says Daniel Martz, vice-president Virtual Care, TELUS Health. “With increased pressure on health care systems, it’s critical for employers to help employees and their families get the care they need, when and where they need it. In addition to helping their employees live healthier lives, it’s also a smart business decision to provide better benefits and improved access to health and well-being services.”

Employers who want to attract and retain employees, increase productivity and reduce absenteeism would be wise to respond to this shift and help support the health and happiness of their workers. Offering plans that include virtual care is one way to do that. Workers whose companies’ health benefits plans include virtual care were much more likely to say the plan meets their needs (75 per cent versus 52 per cent among those without virtual care), as were those who agreed their workplace culture promotes wellness (68 per cent versus 39 cent), according to the 2022 Benefits Canada Healthcare Survey.

By making health care more accessible for employees, employers can help improve the health and satisfaction of their workforce, support mental health and well-being, increase productivity, lower benefits costs and absenteeism, and help recruit and retain top talent. In fact, up to 59 per cent of respondents in The Conference Board of Canada survey indicate they may seek new job opportunities in pursuit of improved or more holistic health benefit plans, and a 2020 Morneau Shepell report found nearly 8 in 10 Canadian employees would consider changing jobs for better well-being support.

Healthy employees make healthy organizations, and investing in employee health is not just the right thing to do – it’s the smart thing to do. Mental health-related absences cost Canadian employers more than $16-billion each year in lost productivity. Virtual care can help with these challenges.

TELUS Health Virtual Care is a national virtual care service that makes health and wellness more accessible for employees and their immediate families. Available via smartphone or computer, in French and English, it provides 24/7, on-demand care with personal interactions through encrypted text and video chat. With the service’s extensive network of health care professionals, employees benefit from a human connection at every step along the way, from primary care needs and mental health support to specialist referrals and more.

Companies that prioritize employee health and well-being with TELUS Health Virtual Care have access to a whole suite of services. It’s the “digital front door” into a variety of virtual care solutions offered by TELUS Health, Martz says, which now serves corporate clients in more than 160 countries and covers 50 million lives worldwide after its recent acquisition of LifeWorks.

For example, employees can access Specialized Digital Therapy (SDT), which offers effective, self-paced mental health care programs that address a range of needs, from managing addiction to returning to the workplace, at a lower cost than most one-on-one therapy sessions.

In addition, TELUS Health Virtual Care offers an integrated employee assistance program called LifeJourney™. The program, which can complement companies’ existing benefits programs, provides employees and their families with 24/7 access to trained care advocates who develop personalized plans, manage online appointment booking, and follow up at every step of the member’s journey. This enhanced service also includes resources designed to educate and inspire employees to improve their well-being through changes in their habits and behaviours.

This focus on prevention is central to TELUS Health’s approach, where virtual care is an essential part of a continuum of care, allowing people to proactively manage their overall health and wellness and not just the treatment of illnesses and diseases. This helps employees build a more balanced lifestyle, withstand stress, and can prevent and mitigate chronic diseases.

“Employers can help their employees be more proactive about their health and influence healthier behaviours before someone becomes ill,” Martz says. “Our virtual health services enable preventative health experiences, as opposed to an employee only coming to the platform because they need care.

“And this is just the beginning,” Martz adds. “Our solutions are truly about bringing better care and access to care to individuals, and expanding that to a global population to help people around the world live their healthiest lives.”

For more information, visit telushealth.com/employeecare

Why virtual health care is vital

1 in 10

Employees who missed work due to illness or disability in January 2022

#1

Burnout is the biggest issue facing employers in 2022

50%

Approximate percentage of workers suffering moderate to severe burnout since the start of the pandemic

38%

Of employees in Canada say they are more burnt out than they were a year ago

80%

Of employees would prefer more benefits over a pay increase

48%

Of employees say health care benefits are a deciding factor when choosing between companies

67%

Of employees say they benefit from mental health services offered by their employer

40%

Of employees had difficulty accessing mental health care through workplace benefits plans

55%

Of entrepreneurs face significant recruitment challenges

$1,500

Average mental illness-related annual cost to employers per employee

86%

Of HR professionals say offering mental health benefits can increase employee retention

89%

Of HR professionals say mental health support can increase employee productivity

Source: telushealth.com/employeecare

Advertising feature produced by Globe Content Studio and TELUS Health. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved.